Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-27

hubub when there came carload after car
load, by the railway, of barrels of rosin
and bales OF cotton--the former stored
under the open and the latter under the
enclosed sheds. The cotton did not excite
so much astonishment. but the rosin!
Such an amount of it! Some one had the
curiosity to nose around and count the
number of barrels piled in ono of the
long and high sheds. Ten thousand of
them! And there were five more such
sheds, and jammed full. Sixty thousand
barrels of rosin! And no end Of cotton
bales! What would he do with It? what
could he do with it?
The only partisan he had, as have said,
was myself, and picked up dozen quar-
rels about it. Someone asked old Pea
body about it.
"Uncle David, is Fool Jim gown to set
up a cotton factory an ship-yard?
Mebbe he'll SEN his ships down by the
railroad"
"Sonny," said David, "pack your head
in ice. James Foljambe knows more in
one minute than you're likely to know in
year."
In the midst of this cIamor came bit
of gossip not too pleasant. There was
venom in it. Bill Cowan, who was always
nosing about and kept his eyes open and
his tongue busy, came into the shop one
day to get plug of chewing Tobacco.
"Tell you what, OaIchieze," he said sad
dressing my partner, II guess they'll call
Fool Jim Villain Jim,' afore long.
"What do you mean, you scamp" T
demanded angrily.
Scamp yourself, an see how you like
it," he retorted. 'What do I mean! I'll
tell you, an l amt afraid to. I was
crossin' by Widow Peabody's last night,
and what does see but Jim Foljambe
with his arm around Becky Peabody IS
waist, an she a-leaniu' up to him like a
sick kitten to hot blick. Stands to
reason he's foolin' the girl. Everybody
knows he's sweet on Miss Elton, an she's
You don't suppose FoIjambe means any
thing but foolin' Becky do you? That's
why he was SO liberal with his money to
the widow. It's we'll enough for you to
STAN up for him, an We know why, but
fax is fax"
And off went CowaA with his tobacco,
in triumph. It did not stop there. The
news spread, and spasm of virtuous in
OiSh ooi0h ohOOh LII 9helolds io COOh
came to the ears of Foljambe himself.
He had paid no attention so the popular
comment On his purchases, but this was
different matter. He hunted Bill Cow
an and found him in our shop, where he
and some of his cronies were discussing
the thing at the time.
shark you, Cowan!" cried Foljambe,
his eyes blazing in wrath, "you have been
To M frQalu ahnut in
ton with young lady. If I learn of
your wagging that long tongue of yours
in the same way again. or find you caves
dropping, I'll give you a pounding, and
you know that [ can do it. Things have
got to pretty pass in this com munity
when slanderis set afoot because some
sneak sees one bestow a caress on a
young lady when he is to marry within
month. And I'll hold any other man
who NEEDLES with my affairs to a strict
account.
Here was settler. Becky Peabody to
MARY aFoljambe! Why,the Foljanbe's
turn U p their noses at the country folk land
took their wives from abroad. Gossip
left the rosin and cotton and took to the
match. But it was admiring and not
offensive.
*
affair. Miss Elton was first bridesmaid
and the gentleman she married after
ward, Mr.. bennington, was Flojambe's
best man. There was reception at the
house-the young people took no tour
but remained at Foljambe Place-and L
OF the few Brantford folk invited, was
there. So was David Peabody, of course
He was got up in suit of fine broad
cloth an6 his Shaoc chnpa lilo
waiter. Every one knew this raiment
came from the bridegroom. O, of
course! There were number of costly
and elegant presents displayed. But
| these came, with the exception of an odd
looking japanese cabinet, given by the
Widow Peabody, from the Fuljambe
amined them.
BETTY" he said, loud enough to at
tract attention, ''the Peabodys don't
seem to shine in the way of making gifts
to the bride. Yeur Uncle David will
have to put in his mite" Then he drew a
bulky package from his capacious breast
pocket, which it fitted so tightly that he
withdrew it with difficulty.
go, thank you, Uncle David" said the
bride. "Any thing from you"
"Open it, child"
The newlymade Mrs. Foil ambe undid
the cord and removed the wrapping. 1t
was Russia leather covered casket, with
the letters r. P. E. on it. When she
opened it she she gave one cry of de-
light.
"They are old mine Stones" said Uncle
Davic quietly. "Don't drop that scrap
of paper. I doE't want you to be run
ming to your husband for pocket money,
and you'd better invest the amount of
that check for yourself as he advises
you"
This was a surprise. Few had seen
such set-a necklace, bracelets, ear
rings and pin, made up of the finest bril-
liants, some of them quite large. They
must have cost enormously. Where did
Uncle David get the money?
I found out before anyone else. was
down in New York to purchase tea, and
Carlton, of the jobbing firm with which I
did business, said to me:
"David Peabody is rusticating at Brant-
ford, amt her"
'sOld Uncle David?" said. eyes, he is
a sort of hanger on to his sister-in-law.
She feeds him fancy"
"Feeds him? What do you mean !?
David Peabody could feed q dozen sister